2006 Minnesota Statutes

245.4861 PUBLIC/ACADEMIC LIAISON INITIATIVE.
    Subdivision 1. Establishment of liaison initiative. The commissioner of human services, in
consultation with the appropriate postsecondary institutions, shall establish a public/academic
liaison initiative to coordinate and develop brain research and education and training opportunities
for mental health professionals in order to improve the quality of staffing and provide
state-of-the-art services to residents in regional treatment centers and other state facilities.
    Subd. 2. Consultation. The commissioner of human services shall consult with the
Minnesota Department of Health, the regional treatment centers, the postsecondary educational
system, mental health professionals, and citizen and advisory groups.
    Subd. 3. Liaison initiative programs. The liaison initiative, within the extent of available
funding, shall plan, implement, and administer programs which accomplish the objectives of
subdivision 1. These shall include but are not limited to:
(1) encourage and coordinate joint research efforts between academic research institutions
throughout the state and regional treatment centers, community mental health centers, and
other organizations conducting research on mental illness or working with individuals who are
mentally ill;
(2) sponsor and conduct basic research on mental illness and applied research on existing
treatment models and community support programs;
(3) seek to obtain grants for research on mental illness from the National Institute of Mental
Health and other funding sources;
(4) develop and provide grants for training, internship, scholarship, and fellowship programs
for mental health professionals, in an effort to combine academic education with practical
experience obtained at regional treatment centers and other state facilities, and to increase the
number of mental health professionals working in the state.
    Subd. 4. Private and federal funding. The liaison initiative shall seek private and federal
funds to supplement the appropriation provided by the state. Individuals, businesses, and other
organizations may contribute to the liaison initiative. All money received shall be administered
by the commissioner of human services to implement and administer the programs listed in
subdivision 3.
    Subd. 5. Report. By February 15 of each year, the commissioner of human services
shall submit to the legislature a liaison initiative report. The annual report shall be part of the
commissioner's February 15 report to the legislature required by section 245.487, subdivision 4.
History: 1989 c 282 art 4 s 36